Daily Safeguarding Update - Safer Schools NI

Snapchat will let users share real-time location with friends

Snapchat announced they will introduce real-time location sharing on the app, in partnership with the Its On US programme.
This feature is meant to be used as ‘temporary buddy system’ for friends and family when they are travelling.
Users can choose to enable the feature for a selected mutual friend for 15 minutes or a few hours – the feature is off by default and can’t be enabled for all friends.
You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

Nine firms are under investigation by the Information Commissioner Office (ICO) for breaches of the Children’s Code after complaints from the charity 5Rights.
The firms contacted include Instagram, Apple, Google and Omegle.
The investigation is focused on the potentially “poor compliance with privacy requirements” which have posed “a high risk to children”.
You can read the full story on the Telegraph’s website.

An all-party parliamentary group has found that heavy drinking has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic despite funding cuts and less referrals to addiction services.
An estimated 2.6 million children in the UK are living with at least one parent that drinks too much.
Around 65% of drug and alcohol services had their funding cut or not increased and 57% of councils don’t have a strategy to support children of alcoholics.
You can read the full story on the Sky News

The Coercive Control domestic abuse law has come into force in Northern Ireland from today alongside a campaign to raise awareness and a website of resources.
Officers and staff members in the justice system have been trained to recognise and respond to reports of coercive control.
They have also been trained on using their powers to safeguard children who witness domestic abuse.
You can read the full story on the BBC’s website.